Billing & Coding:Veteran’s Administration

Welcome to your billing and coding weekly solutions by American Acupuncture Council Network (AAC).

There are several ways an acupuncturist office can be paid and one of those avenues is the Veteran’s Administration (VA) Choice program.

The VA Choice program allows veterans enrolled in the program to receive care from acupuncturist registered with Triwest (in the western half of the U.S.) and Optum Health (for the eastern portion).

Here are five things to know about acupuncture coverage under the VA Choice program:

1. Acupuncture is seen as reasonable and necessary complementary care to deal with the management of pain.

2. Authorizations for VA generally are for 12 visits and 90 days.

3. The standard services authorized include acupuncture 97810 to 97814, but often indicate a limit of two sets of acupuncture per visit.

4. Evaluation and management (E&M) services 99201-99215 are also covered.

5. There is no deductible or out-of-pocket cost to patients.

Remember, billing with incorrect acupuncture CPT and ICD codes can lead to claim rejections and delays in payments, which can have a devastating impact on generating revenue and keeping you in business. 

If you are experiencing insurance claim denial, staff spending too much time trying to get claims paid, and patients asking why their claims have not been paid then American Acupuncture Council Network is your solution.

American Acupuncture Council Network stays ahead of the curve on the latest trends and changes in billing and coding by utilizing their direct channel of communication with the insurance companies and organizations that set the guidelines.

There is a reason acupuncturists have trusted AAC with their business for over 30 years.